miércoles, julio 09, 2014

Confused by the Oregonian's GMO Confusion, by Rick North

Three days after GMO labeling supporters turned in over 155,000 signatures to put their initiative on November’s ballot, and four months before Election Day, the Oregonian editorial board sounded the alarm: “GMO food-labeling mandate would sow only confusion.” The labeling they fear would be worded “Produced with Genetic Engineering.”Let’s do a little survey on a few other federally mandated labels for everyday products:“Contains orange juice concentrate” (Minute Maid): Confused?“Irradiated” (Wegman’s Ground Beef): Puzzled?“Calories - 150” (Pringles): Mystified?“Product of Thailand” (Trader Joe’s Whole Cashews): Bewitched, bothered and bewildered?If you answered no to all of the above, I’m guessing you’re part of a vast majority of Americans who emerge from grocery stores mentally intact. Neither have I seen any reports that consumers in 64 nations requiring GMO food labeling, including Germany, Japan, Australia, UK, even Russia, have succumbed to the Oregonian’s labeling-induced befuddlement.